Dwight Howard’s professional basketball career has officially come to an end, and the final chapter was written far from the NBA spotlight.
The Hall of Fame center played what Black Fortress Tbilisi announced as the final game of his career on Saturday, appearing for the Georgian club in an 89-82 loss to TSU. Howard finished with 10 points, four rebounds and two assists in roughly 20 minutes.
His stint with Black Fortress was brief. Howard appeared in only two official games for the club, debuting on October 10 with 12 points, seven rebounds and three blocks in a loss to Iverioni before returning one week later for his farewell performance.
The atmosphere made the occasion feel much bigger than an ordinary Georgian Superliga game. Supporters welcomed Howard warmly and marked his farewell with chants and applause, giving one of the most accomplished centers of his generation a final send-off on the court. Black Fortress had promoted the matchup as a special farewell event in the days leading up to it.
Howard’s last NBA appearance came with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2022. After that, he continued playing internationally and in alternative leagues, including stops in Taiwan, Dubai, BIG3 competition and, finally, Georgia.
His NBA résumé remains one of the most decorated of his era. Across 18 seasons, Howard was an eight-time All-Star, eight-time All-NBA selection, five-time All-Defensive Team member and three-time Defensive Player of the Year. He also led the league in rebounding five times, in blocks twice and won an NBA championship with the Lakers in 2020. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2025.
Howard’s career did not end with another deep playoff run, a packed NBA arena or a dramatic farewell tour. Instead, it finished in Tbilisi, with a small crowd recognizing the end of a career that once made “Superman” one of the most dominant forces in basketball.
